It can be hard to remain connected to your roots when you’re trying to navigate the harsh realities of being Black in 2020. Enter Raven Irabor, TaNazjha Washington, Jonathan Adjahoe, and Aceani “Ace” Michelle, the four West Coast-based creatives using community and art to reconnect to their African roots.
In a series titled “One Woman”, we’re shown the dynamic between a black woman and her culture: her wardrobe merging contemporary, layered clothing with West African-inspired beauty. Shot in Los Angeles by a team of 4 black creatives, all from different backgrounds, “One Woman” uses stunning imagery to remind us of the beauty that happens when two worlds collide.
We caught up with the crew to talk about their work and how they navigate this industry while remaining true to themselves.
Raven Irabor, 26 @ravencherisse
In your own words, describe what you do.
I express and support black thought through imagery and the community. I do that through work as a creative producer, visual artist, and creative entrepreneur.
Describe home.
Home is the core of who I am. It’s the space that shaped my identity. It’s the mecca of fashion, art, culture, diversity, business, media. It’s the city that sets trends. It birthed beautiful movements of black art and thought. It has some of the most fly, talented, remarkable people.
“It’s the city that never sleeps.”
How do you remain connected to the African Diaspora, if at all?
Music. I listen to a lot of music by people from all over the Diaspora. Most recently I have gotten into Afro-Dutch music and it’s fire.
Family. I am a first-generation Trinidadian / Nigerian. During quarantine, I have been having more cultural and life-based conversations with my family members. I’ve learned a lot about the Diaspora from my dad. We can literally talk for hours about the African Diaspora through the lens of history and culture. He’s traveled to who knows how many countries and has deep thought about the elevation + unity of the Diaspora from Nigeria to Trinidad, and everywhere in between.
The Internet. I watch so many old movies from different countries. I recently watched an old Egyptian black and white movie. I follow a lot of creative people on Instagram that are all over the Diaspora and who are doing the work unify the Diaspora through art.
What does community look like to you?
Community looks like a place full of genuine support and love.
What does diversity in fashion look like to you?
Diversity in fashion is constantly questioning and thinking about why things are the way they are. It is considering all the key players in the fashion industry from the designers to the publicists to the buyers to the factory workers. Since working with The Folklore, I have been exposed to multiple parts of the fashion industry and began understanding the value of Black people owning or being part of the decision making from the factories to the fashion magazines; diversify the entire pipeline.
In what ways do you hope to see this industry support African/African culture?
I hope to see the fashion industry authentically and appropriately use Africa/African culture at all levels, but do not take from us. Do not go to Africa and create a western system for the sake of diversifying without including the people. I’m not 100% into having a Vogue Africa. Why can’t Africa have its own authoritative voice in fashion? Because at the end of the day, who is profiting off of Vogue Africa? It sure isn’t Africa.
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned from being in this industry?
The most important lesson I have learned about working in the creative industry is to do the work that you want to do and have a network of people who can help and support you along the way; build a community. There’s a lot of people out there who want to support and help you, tune into that love.
How do you find joy in such a trying time?
In knowing that there is an awakening happening at this moment in time. There is a paradigm shift going on and to me, that’s really exciting!
In being grateful to have so much love around me.
These things allow me to keep going and figure out ways to move in an upwards direction.
Tell me more about the decision to reference east and west African inspired hair.
“One Woman” is my first real exploration of using imagery to intentionally highlight the style and culture of the African Diaspora. When this idea came about, I just came back from Accra, Ghana for The Year of Return. I would say that trip was one of the best decisions I have ever made. It was so beautiful, so eye-opening, so loving. With that in my spirit, I knew I wanted to incorporate different aspects of African culture and hair was definitely a big part of it.
TaNazjha Washington, 27 @TrustingTanaj
In your own words, describe what you do.
I evoke emotion.
Describe home.
It’s the origin of the chicken wing. It’s where my heart is, it’s where support, as well as honor, is. It’s where my foundation is. My home is where my family is.
How do you remain connected to the African Diaspora, if at all?
I don’t. Being the descendant of slaves I am extremely disconnected from Africa on many levels and I am unfamiliar with where to start or go. But I remain in awe of its culture and joy that shines bright through its descendants.
What does community look like to you?
It looks like accountability, tough truths, joy, and love.
What does diversity in fashion look like to you?
Inclusion.
In what ways do you hope to see this industry support African/African culture?
By giving credit as well as the appropriate amount of financial funds where it’s due.
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned from being in this industry?
A “no” does not determine your worth. Unless you believe in yourself first no one else will.
How do you find joy in such a trying time?
The comfort that I have in knowing that I am forever covered by the blood of the lamb. As well as using this time to use the gifts that God has blessed me with in creating.
Jonathan Adjahoe, 34 @JCKA_Photo
In your own words, describe what you do.
I create beautiful images of human beings.
Describe home.
My resting place, it’s a sanctuary of peace. A place where I feel safe, can be alone, and can recharge.
What does community look like to you?
It looks like a group of people from separate families that come together, help each other, build to reach a common goal.
What does diversity in fashion look like to you?
An equal amount of representation between all humans.
In what ways do you hope to see this industry support African/African culture?
Cast more African Americans and Africans for all roles, not just the stereotypical ones. Give African and African American women the same level recognition of their work as caucasian men.
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned from being in this industry?
Everything is not what it seems.
How do you find joy in such a trying time?
By photographing the small things and even big things that are overlooked.
Aceani “Ace” Michelle, 23 @aceanimichelle
In your own words, describe what you do.
I am an image architect that lives at the intersection of art and fashion. An intentional storyteller with fashion design and styling as my medium.
Describe home.
I just moved into my home so I am in the midst of developing its character. My goal is to create a warm, safe space for myself. Sunset at the beach was my inspiration and starting point for my color story. I’ve also become an entry-level botanist over the past few weeks so I’m enjoying my new plants, and all that comes with keeping them well. It’s therapeutic for myself and my space.
How do you remain connected to the African Diaspora, if at all?
I am currently based in Los Angeles, CA. The number one way for me to stay connected is through spirit. Whether it be prayer or meditation, I always find a way to go deep within, beyond myself and the present day. My second point of connection is through food. I am also a huge fan of Afrobeats which keeps me deeply connected to the rhythm and current culture of the African Diaspora.
What does community look like to you?
To me, community is about accepting and acknowledging people’s differences in one space. Finding the commonalities between all of us and moving forward as a unit.
What does diversity in fashion look like to you?
Hire black and people of color for actual roles beyond freelance positions. Include black people and people of color in conversations about our cultures. Include us in ads that don’t exploit our beauty or being.
In what ways do you hope to see this industry support African/African culture?
I hope to see the industry support the African and African American culture by simply letting us be. Do not disturb the culture and do not try to insert yourself where you shouldn’t be. They didn’t want to give us space so we are creating our own. We are moving to our own beat. There’s a tweet that read, “You can’t have the benefits of our culture without the struggle.”
Black culture is something the fashion industry has always found a way to benefit from whether it be stealing our trends, stealing our ideas, and etc. The issue is that they try to do all this on their own, but then run behind an apology statement when they offend people. It goes back to my statement above.. Hire black and people of color for actual roles beyond freelance positions.
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned from being in this industry? There’s a lot of people in this industry that lack self-awareness. Working in fashion was a real-life depiction of “Mean Girls”, and to some extent, it still is. I think as I’ve gotten older the industry has taught me to learn and love myself for who I am. Even as I change and evolve through the years, I still maintain a strong sense of my core values. It has also taught me the importance of ‘the process’. Emerging into the fashion industry from the ground up is hard and it takes time. I’ve had the same goal of being a designer since I was in fourth grade and although the journey has looked a lot different than I imagined, each step has been necessary. I’ve learned to enjoy the process, adapt to change, and be patient with my dream.
How do you find joy in such a trying time?
Writing has been my joy in these times. I am back working as of June, but I still find time to breathe and write out my thoughts and feelings.
Creative Director + Producer: Raven Irabor
Photographer: Jonathan Adjahoe
Stylist: Aceani Michelle
HMUA: TaNazjha Washington
